Nearly a week after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory in the Delhi elections, efforts to clean the heavily polluted Yamuna River commenced on Sunday. Authorities have adopted a four-pronged strategy to restore the river within three years.
The issue of Yamuna pollution was a key flashpoint during the election campaigns, with the BJP criticizing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for failing to fulfill its promise of cleaning the river. Following the elections, trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility units were deployed to initiate cleanup operations.
Officials from Raj Niwas confirmed that Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena had met with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary (Irrigation and Flood Control) on Saturday. The L-G directed them to expedite the Yamuna cleaning efforts with a structured and time-bound approach.
The comprehensive four-pronged strategy includes the removal of trash and silt from the river while simultaneously addressing pollution in major drains such as the Najafgarh drain and the supplementary drain. Additionally, existing sewage treatment plants (STPs) will undergo regular capacity and output monitoring. Authorities also plan to construct new STPs and decentralized STPs to bridge the current shortfall in sewage treatment, estimated at approximately 400 million gallons per day (MGD).
“Successful execution of this ambitious plan will require seamless coordination among various agencies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, Environment Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA),” an official from the L-G office stated.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has also been instructed to maintain strict oversight of industrial units to prevent the discharge of untreated effluents into the drains, ensuring compliance with environmental norms.
The Yamuna River, which serves as a crucial water source for Delhi, has long been plagued by high pollution levels due to unchecked sewage discharge and industrial effluents. The renewed cleanup efforts mark a significant step in addressing the city’s environmental concerns.
